conned all the approach to India
BRIAN has just returned from India. He was conned by people who charged his parents a hefty sum of money to secure him a vacancy for a Master’s in Information Technology at the University of Delhi.
Brian told Saturday Vision that the man responsible for his problems was Yasin Senteza, who assured him he could secure post and undergraduate programmes in any Indian university. All Brian needed was copies of his academic documents and money to process the admission and travel documents.
Time was not on Brian’s side, so he hurriedly gathered everything that Senteza asked for. “He said we needed $200 for admission, $200 for a visa, sh20,000 for a yellow fever vaccination card and sh20,000 for an HIV test. His commission was $500.”
Brian’s father paid $900 plus sh50,000 and two weeks later, Yasin gave them the documents and the contact of a friend called Chris, who would pick Brian up at the airport and help him settle down. “When I arrived in India, Chris took me to live with him as I looked for my own place. He said he was a university student.”
The following morning, when Brian reported to the university, the vice-chancellor, Dr. R.C Sharma, told him his admission letter was a forgery.
He proved it by comparing his signature to the one that was on the letter. “He told me it was a common occurrence and many students from Uganda were victims. He advised me to record a police statement and report to the Uganda High Commission for assistance.”
Brian says he tried to call Yasin, who ignored his calls. Later, Yasin called Chris and told him to advise and help Brian to enroll in another, small, information technology institution in Delhi.
“Actually, according to Chris, Yasin sends many Ugandans to India to prestigious universities and when they get problems, they enroll in smaller institutions because they cannot return to Uganda after spending so much money. I was so mad and thought of all the possible things I would do to Yasin when I returned to Uganda. I called everyone, friends and family, to break the bad news. I hardly slept a wink that night.”
Brian was soon to discover why duped students prefer to stay and look for places in less known institutions.
The process of returning home was long and inconvenient. He had to line up at immigration offices for an exit stamp, then at the high commission for an exit visa. Chris warned him not to mention the forgery at the immigration office lest he got arrested on suspicion of involvement or to help with the investigations.
After three days of lines, explanations and questioning, Brian finally obtained an exit stamp following a fine of 1,395 rand. He returned to Kampala, having lost over sh6m in the ordeal.
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